About Nereis

A melodic hard rock outfit with a razor-sharp heavy metal edge, Italy's Nereis originally operated under the name Black Star before changing their moniker in 2017. Founded in 2007 in the city of Trento, the band cites a wide array of influences that include Avenged Sevenfold, Bon Jovi, Trivium, Iron Maiden, Alice in Chains, and Kings of Leon, among others. They spent their formative years honing their skills as a popular regional covers band, eventually releasing a collection of their own material, Burnin' Game, in 2012. The following year saw a flurry of personnel changes, with the group settling on a core unit consisting of founding members Sam Fabrello (guitar), Gian Nadalini (bass), and Dave Odorizzi (drums), and newcomers Andy Barchiesi (lead vocals) and Mattia Pessina (guitar). This new iteration of Black Star put out an EP, From the Ashes, in 2014, followed by a heavy bout of touring. In 2017, the group officially changed its name to Nereis and began working on a full-length debut. The resulting Turning Point was released the following year via U.S.-based Eclipse Records. ~ James Christopher Monger